Diamond's "Rounds"
David Diamond (1915-2005) Rounds Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra; Gerard Schwarz, cond. Nonesuch 79002
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Short (but tough) Copland
Aaron Copland (1900 – 1990) Short Symphony (Symphony No. 2) San Francisco Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas, cond. BMG 68541
Music for St. Cecilia's Day
Henry Purcell (1659 – 1695) Hail Bright Cecilia! Gabrieli Consort; Paul McCreesh Archiv 445 882 George Frederic Handel (1685 – 1759) Ode for St. Cecilia's Day English Concert; Trevor Pinnock, cond. Archiv 419 220 Benjamin Britten (1913 –1976) Hymn to St. Cecilia London Sinfonietta Voices Virgin 90728
Harbison's "Flight into Egypt"
John Harbison (b. 1938) Flight into Egypt Cantata Singers and Ensemble; David Hoose, cond. New World 80395
Meredith Monk
Meredith Monk (b. 1942) Atlas Meredith Monk Ensemble; Wayne Hankin, cond. ECM 1491
Gershwin's last film score
George Gershwin (1898 – 1937) Damsel in Distress Suite (An American in London) Hollywood Bowl Orchestra; John Mauceri, cond. Philips 434 274
The Wagners attend a Brahms premiere
Johannes Brahms (1833 – 1897) Piano Quartet No. 3 in c Ames Piano Quartet Dorian 90217
Hoover for flute and guitar
Katherine Hoover (1937 - 2018) Canyon Echoes Duologue (Susan Morris De Jong, flute; Jeffrey Van, guitar) Gasparo 336
The Philadelphia Sound
Richard Wagner (1813 – 1883) Act I Prelude, from Die Meistersinger Philadelphia Orchestra; Eugene Ormandy, cond CBS 38914 Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873 – 1943) Symphonic Dances Philadelphia Orchestra; Charles Dutoit, cond. London 433 181
Herschel Looks Up
William Herschel (1738 – 1822) Oboe Concerto in C Richard Woodhams, oboe; The Mozart Orchestra; Davis Jerome, cond. Newport Classic 85612 Gustav Holst (1874 – 1934) Uranus, from The Planets Philharmonia Orchestra; Simon Rattle, cond. EMI 9513
About Composers Datebook®
Host John Birge presents a daily snapshot of composers past and present, with timely information, intriguing musical events and appropriate, accessible music related to each.
He has been hosting, producing and performing classical music for more than 25 years. Since 1997, he has been hosting on Minnesota Public Radio's Classical Music Service. He played French horn for the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra and performed with them on their centennial tour of Europe in 1995. He was trained at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Eastman School of Music and Interlochen Arts Academy.